Czechs end year at No. 1 for first time

NEWS ARTICLE

By Tom Moran

Photo: Paul Zimmer/Srdjan StevanovicThe Czech team

Czech Republic will end the year as the top-ranked Davis Cup nation for the first time in its history after securing back-to-back titles following its 3-2 victory over Serbia in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final on 15-17 November.

The Czechs replaced Spain, which has held the year-end No. 1 ranking for each of the past four years, at the top of the rankings following the first round of World Group ties this year. Successive wins against Kazakhstan, Argentina, and, of course, Serbia, have seen them hold on to the top spot with relative ease throughout 2013.

Now unbeaten in nine consecutive Davis Cup ties, Czech Republic will look to extend their winning run into 2014 when it hosts Netherlands in the World Group first round next year.

The Czechs’ last defeat came at this stage in 2011, when they were upset by Kazakhstan in Ostrava. Netherlands face a daunting task against the two-time defending champions, having only claimed one win against them in their history, which came nearly 90 years ago, in 1925.

Despite being unable to repeat the heroics of their 2010 campaign, Serbia remain in the second spot of the rankings. The Serbs will welcome Switzerland in the first round of 2014, in what promises to be an intriguing tie. Spain, Argentina and France complete the top five.